Your yard should be a sanctuary where you feel safe and comfortable. When dealing with a pest issue, though, you may find it more difficult to relax and enjoy your space. This is especially true in Austin, TX, where some fairly common insects can quickly become pests if they aren’t controlled.
Some of the most common pests in Austin include:
- Ants
- Bed Bugs
- Cockroaches
- Ticks
- Scorpions
Fortunately, you can do a few different things that will help keep these pests out of your yard. By being proactive about it, you can ensure that you won’t get an infestation that could ruin your backyard experience.
Increase Drainage
One of the first things you should do if you want to keep pests out of your yard is to ensure sufficient drainage. Insects and mosquitoes, in particular, use standing water as a breeding ground, and eliminating it can help keep their numbers to a minimum. This can be especially helpful in Austin, where summer rains bring a lot of flying pests.
Go around your yard and look for any areas that might collect water in the event of rainfall. Pots, planters, and trash cans are all prime areas for mosquito breeding grounds. Drill holes in the bottoms of these receptacles to make sure water doesn’t collect and stagnate.
Attract More Birds
Installing a bird feeder in your backyard has a lot of benefits. You get to help the ecosystem and get a large collection of interesting, desirable wildlife in your yard. It can be a nice hobby if you research and find out what kinds of birds you can attract to your home or garden.
Birds also have the added benefit of hunting pests like bugs and rodents. However, if you install a bird feeder, ensure it is protected and out of reach of rodents and other wildlife. You could end up attracting more pests than you can get rid of.
Keep Up On Maintenance
Your backyard probably has a lot of vegetation and green grass. This lush environment is one of the perks of living in a warm, moist area like Austin. However, it can also create overgrown vegetation, a perfect hiding spot for pests of all kinds.
One of the main pest issues that come along with tall, overgrown grass is ticks. They live in the lush grass and latch onto people and animals as they walk through and cause infections and disease. Keeping your yard trimmed and grass cut can help eliminate these pests and keep them from making their home in your space.
Build Traps
If you’re dealing with many mosquitos and flies, a homemade insect trap can be very helpful. All you have to do is cut a 2-liter soda bottle in half and invert the top half into the bottom half. Then, fill the trap with a mixture of sugar and water and tape the two halves together.
This trap works by luring flying pests into the bottle to get to the bait but not letting them get back out. It can be hung in any problem areas around your yard. Just make sure to clean it out and change the bait solution regularly to avoid any foul odors.
Get Professional Help
While all of these methods can help, your best bet is going to be a professional exterminator. There are many pest control companies in Austin that can help you target your specific problem and develop the best solution. They can also work with you to figure out how to prevent pests from coming back in the future.
Your backyard should be as comfortable as possible so you can enjoy it to its fullest. Part of that includes keeping it pest-free as well as safe. Knowing how to best prevent a pest issue can help you stay on top of your yard’s safety.